Salvia plant named ‘EGGBEN004’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Salvia  cultivar named ‘EGGBEN004’ is disclosed, characterized by a dense, bushy plant habit, distinctive dark mauve colored flowers, with a white eye, and a rigid, short inflorescence. The new variety is a  Salvia , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Salvia microphylla×greggii.

Variety denomination: ‘EGGBEN004’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Salvia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Howard Bentley, in Wonga Park, Victoria,Australia. The objective of the breeding program was to produce newSalvia varieties with denser plant habits, strong garden performance, ina range of flower colors. The cross resulting in this new variety wasmade during April 2006.

The seed parent is the unpatented, Salvia microphylla ‘Trewithin’. Thepollen parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety Salvia greggii‘005’. The new variety was identified as a potentially interestingselection in October 2006, at a research greenhouse in Wonga Park,Australia. Further observations and evaluations were made during 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘EGGBEN004’ by vegetativecuttings was first performed during 2007, at a research greenhouse inWonga Park, Australia. Subsequent propagation has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type onsuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘EGGBEN004’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘EGGBEN004’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘EGGBEN004’ as a new and distinct Salviacultivar:

-   -   1. Bushy plant habit.    -   2. Dark mauve colored flowers, with a distinctive white eye.    -   3. Dark calyx coloration.    -   4. Strong, rigid inflorescence.    -   5. Dense plant habit.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘EGGBEN004’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Salvia microphylla ‘Trewithin’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘EGGBEN004’ aredenser, with a less upright plant habit. Additionally, calyx colorationof the parent variety is not as dark as that of the new cultivar.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘EGGBEN004’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, Salvia greggii ‘005’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘EGGBEN004’ producedark mauve colored flowers, with a white eye, whereas the pollen parentproduces solid red flowers.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar are best compared to the commercial varietySalvia gregii ‘Navajo Rose’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,699. Plants of thenew variety produce different colored flower, with a distinctive whiteeye not found on this comparator. Plants of ‘EGGBEN004’ tolerate humidconditions better than the comparator. Additionally, the varietiesdiffer in leaf shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical flower of ‘EGGBEN004’.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘EGGBEN004’ grown ina greenhouse, in Watsonville, Calif., in a commercial 8 inch container.

Age of the plant photographed is approximately 20 weeks from an unrootedcutting. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques andalthough colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007, Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe ‘EGGBEN004’ plants grown in agreenhouse in Watsonville, Calif. The growing temperature ranged from10° C. to 28° C. The greenhouse is un-shaded, giving bright, normalsunlight conditions. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia microphylla×greggii cultivar    ‘EGGBEN004’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 5-8 days at approximately 25° C.-   Root description: Fine, densely fibrous.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 21 days at 25° C.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Outwardly arching annual.-   Pot size of plant described: 8 inch pot.-   Height: Approximately 38 cm to top of foliage. Approximately 52 cm    to top of flowering plane. Measured from soil level of pot.-   Plant spread: Approximately 50 cm.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Free-branching, Approximately 8 to 10    primary branches.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 35 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.4 cm.-   Quantity of lateral branches: About 12 to 18.-   Stem:    -   -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.        -   Pubescence.—Minute pubescence.-   Internode length: Approximately 3.0 to 5.0 cm.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 20 weeks from an unrooted    cutting.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 16 fully expanded per main branch.        -   Average length.—Approximately 6.2 cm., including petiole.        -   Average width.—Approximately 3.0 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Obtuse to nearly truncate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Matte, minute, coarse pubescence.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Matte, minute, coarse pubescence.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137C. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side:            Near RHS Green 138A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Green 143C. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 143C.        -   Petiole.—Average Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near Green 143C.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Flowering from early Spring through late    Summer.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Flowers arranged in verticillasters on    spikes.-   Flower longevity on plant: Individual flowers last approximately 1    week on the plant. Each spike lasts approximately 7 weeks with    flowers.-   Quantity of flowers: About 8 buds and 6 fully opened flowers per    spike, at one time. Mature plants have approximately 8 to 14 spikes.-   Spike size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 6.0 cm.        -   Height.—Approximately 10 cm.-   Individual flowers:    -   -   Size.—Diameter: Approximately 1.6 cm. Length: Approximately            2.8 cm.        -   Persistence.—Non-persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Strong, typical Salvia scent.-   Corolla:    -   -   Petal arrangement.—The corolla is sympetalous and typically            bilabiate with 2 small, highly fused lobes forming an upper            lip and 3 larger highly fused lobes forming a lower lip.        -   Margin.—Nearly entire, slightly scalloped.        -   Tip shape.—Upper lip tip retuse, lower lip tip rounded with            scallops.        -   Length.—Upper lip Approximately 1.0 cm, lower lip            Approximately 1.5 cm. Tube length Approximately 1.7 cm.        -   Width.—Upper lip Approximately 0.4 cm, lower lip            Approximately 1.7 cm. Tube width Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Texture.—Upper lip: Pubescent on exterior surface. Interior            surface glabrous. Lower lip: Glabrous all surfaces. Tube:            Glabrous.-   Color:    -   -   Upper lip.—When opening: Inner surface: Near RHS Red-Purple            73D. Outer surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 70A. Fully opened:            Inner surface: Near RHS Purple 75D. Outer surface: Near RHS            Red-Purple 72A. Fading: Inner surface: Near RHS Purple 75D.            Outer surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 72A.-   Color:    -   -   Lower lip.—When opening: Inner surface: Near RHS Red-Purple            71C, base White N155D. Outer surface: Near RHS Red-Purple            71B base White N155D. Fully opened: Inner surface: Near RHS            Red-Purple 71C, base White N155D. Outer surface: Near RHS            Red-Purple 71C, base White N155D. Fading: Inner surface:            Near RHS Red-Purple N74D, base White N155D. Outer surface:            Near RHS Red-Purple N74D, base White N155D.-   Color:    -   -   Tube.—When opening: Inner surface: Near RHS Purple 75C,            opening near White N155D. Outer surface: Near RHS Red-Purple            N74C. Fully opened: Inner surface: Near RHS Purple 75C,            opening near White N155D. Outer surface: Near RHS Purple            75A. Fading: Inner surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 72A, opening            near White N155D. Outer surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 72A.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 72B.-   Calyx:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Sepals.—Shape: Quantity per flower: 3, fused to form a tube.            Unfused Apex: Length: Approximately 0.3 cm. Width:            Approximately 0.6 cm. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: Immature: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature:            Near RHS Green 137A with strong flush near Greyed-Purple            N186A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Average 6.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm. Color: Near RHS Green 137A.        -   Orientation.—Upright, straight.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Length.—Average 0.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS Green Greyed-Purple N187A.        -   Orientation.—Straight, approximately 45 degree angle from            attachment.        -   Strength.—Flexible.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—2.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 1.5, approximately 0.7 cm of            length fused to petal.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS White N155B, flushed Red-Purple            72B.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Very narrowly elliptic.        -   Length.—Approximately 2 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Yellow 161A.        -   Pollen.—Scant colored near Greyed-Orange 167A.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Color: Near RHS White            N155B.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear, curled. Color: Near RHS            Red-Purple72A. Ovary color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    pathogens and pests common to Salvia have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures    between 5 to 35° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named‘EGGBEN004’ as herein illustrated and described.